Institute of Cultural Excellence Kikkajuku (ICEK)
Philosophy Through Direct Experience
Intellectual maturity springs from experience; not from textbooks or ideology. However, nothing is less valuable than an experience of pure sight and sound. Cultivation of the higher faculties is needed to convert sensory input into a meaningful philosophy.
Kikkajuku aims to synthesize contemplative discussion with the satisfaction and entertainment of a new cultural experience. We will immerse ourselves in rural and suburban communities to better understand their issues and historical development, then discuss with a broader philosophical context.
We hope to see you soon!
Fumiko Kikuchi, Founder, Institute of Cultural Excellence Kikkajuku (ICEK)
What is your ideal society?
What kind of society do you want to live in in the future?
The heart of society is not in the big cities, but in the regional areas.
As the population declines,
it is time to learn, think, and discuss
what challenges the regional areas face and how locals are trying to cope.
With global perspectives in mind, your ideal society will be clear.
Would you like to join us in witnessing the society of the future?
Fumiko Kikuchi
Founder, Institute of Cultural Excellence Kikkajuku
After graduating from university in Japan, she worked for press organizations in charge of journalist conferences and international exchange programs, then studied at Columbia University Graduate School in New York, continuing her research on the history of education. She then enrolled at the University of Paris in France, where she conducted fieldwork visiting creative schools and workshops in France, Germany, and the UK, before obtaining a master's degree.
She returned to the United States and launched a local newspaper with her friends for seven years. From 2005, she taught Japanese History at Keio Academy of New York (senior high school), led the school reform emphasizing education in English, and managed Covid years with online classes for students who lived all over the world.
After she left the school, she founded the organization, the Institute of Cultural Excellence -Kikkajuku, which has bases in Japan and the United States to focus on contemporary social issues, create opportunities for open discussion of any concerns, and produce talent that can solve political, economic, and social issues with an international perspective. Since 2015, the organization has been hosting rural homestays in Bali, Indonesia, and since 2024, it has been holding workshops to learn about regional revitalization in various parts of Japan and is also holding thematic discussion meetings in English and Japanese.
She believes strongly in the power of young people through a passion for creating a better future through hands-on experiences and discussions, and therefore, continues to provide them with such opportunities through her workshops and other activities.